FBI: Person in custody in connection to explosive materials investigation

According to the sheriff's office, the warrant was served at a home on Mainsail Lane in The Cape neighborhood.

The FBI and SBI are staying tight-lipped about what exactly the explosive devices were and who may have put them in the storage unit.

Two packages have been detonated during the investigation.

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – A suspect connected to the investigation into explosives found in a storage unit Thursday is in custody, according to a spokesperson for the FBI.

lThe spokesperson said no other details about the arrest will be released to protect the integrity of the case.

The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office assisted the SBI and FBI to execute a search warrant of a home on Mainsail Lane in The Cape neighborhood in connection to the investigation at the storage unit.

Authorities on scene said they found nothing suspicious inside the house and cleared the scene around lunchtime Friday.

According to New Hanover County property records, the house was owned by Kaliope Giannoulis and Garry Slater. Records show the home was purchased August 31, 2010.

Neighbors say one man lived in the home, but they don't know much about him. His next door neighbors did not even know his name. Those across the street, say he came and went at night.

Members of several law enforcement agencies were on standby at North State Storage near the intersection of Carolina Beach and Sander Roads throughout the night to ensure nothing suspicious happened in the facility overnight.

The SBI bomb squad and special agents detonated two packages found in the storage unit Thursday afternoon after they had been moved to a secure location. Other materials were collected with a containment vessel, which is a way of transporting the items safely.

That move came after several people called Thursday morning to report the sound of an explosion in the area. 911 dispatchers got one call from a concerned citizen regarding the explosion.

"We just heard something blow up, and there's a big puff of smoke right beside...behind our unit," said the caller in the 911 recording. "It's the AB storage unit place."

The owner of Coastal K-9 Bakery said she saw several law enforcement officials at the storage unit around 10 Thursday morning. She said she heard the explosion about an hour later.

An employee at Chips Computers said he was working when he felt what he thought was a gunshot blast or a transformer explosion. He said the sound shook the whole building and then he saw smoke coming out of one of the storage units.

Several law enforcement agencies were reportedly investigating an ongoing case when they learned a person of interest had a storage unit at North State Storage.

When authorities investigated the storage unit they found a package. They used the bomb squad robot to check out the package and it exploded.

Despite finding explosive materials in the storage unit, the sheriff's office assures the public has no reason to be concerned about their safety and the authorities have the situation under control.

A mandatory evacuation for S&P Town Center and Strickland Surplus was issued just before 3:00 Thursday afternoon, and have since been allowed to go back to their offices. Officials said there is no need to be concerned for their safety.

The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office, Wilmington Police Department, SBI and FBI are all involved in the investigation. They will continue their efforts throughout the day and night until they get the needed information.

The FBI and SBI are staying tight-lipped about what exactly the explosive devices were and who may have put them in the storage unit.